New details in kidnapping of Lehigh Acres child

New details have emerged after a man allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted the 5-year-old child of his ex-girlfriend.

Fort Myers police arrested William Cole on Wednesday around 5 a.m., after family said they searched for hours to find the young girl he allegedly kidnapped.

One look at his mugshot and parents living in the same Lehigh Acres neighborhood say they can't believe their eyes.

"I've seen him several times. I've seen him a lot," said one family friend who would not disclose her name.

We talked to family friends who say Cole was living at the girl's home and was dating her mother. Neighbors described the relationship as destructive.

"She did what her instincts told her to do," said one family friend.

Family reported the child missing to Lee County deputies at 11:56 p.m., according to LCSO reports. In a statement given by family members, this was approximately six hours from when Cole left the home.

According to the statement, Cole said he was headed to Home Depot. After being gone for hours, family became worried that Cole had taken the girl to any number of drug houses he was known for frequenting.

Family searched for hours, even spotting Cole in Fort Myers before he raced away. Fort Myers police were called shortly after 4 a.m. when family exhausted their search. Until family notified them, they weren't aware of a missing or endangered child.

"We saturated the area and several other areas where the family said Mr. Cole might be with the child, and sure enough, several minutes later, we found the vehicle around the Cranford area," Rodriguez said.

Officers responded, but by the time the officers got there, the car had fled the area.

Later, the car Cole was suspected of driving was located outside a grocery store on the corner of Cranford Avenue and Lafayette Street.

A man walked up to officers and claimed Cole handed him the keys of the car as he fled on foot.

Officers found the young girl inside the car while Cole was found hiding behind a home.

"Gentleman Cole refused to return the child, so according to our partners at the state, that met the criteria so we charged him with that," said Lt. Jay Rodriguez of FMPD.

Cole already faced charges of kidnapping and cruelty to a child without great bodily harm, but now officers believe he sexually assaulted the girl as well.

"The mother had some concerns based on the conversation she had with the child, and therefore they brought it to our attention, and we took it one step further," Rodriguez said.

Cole is reportedly a known drug user and also recently was found guilty of domestic battery against the child's mother.

Neighbors now ask if more could have been done.

"Even with the other little girl, the Alvarez girl, you don't know where she is. The should have had an Amber Alert instead of questioning that father. This time they know that whatever he is had the girl. They didn't issue the Amber Alert when they should've," said a family friend.

The sheriff's office reported this missing child didn't qualify for an Amber Alert. They refused to answer our questions in regards to the Missing Child Alert, only saying in a statement it didn't qualify for an Amber Alert.

Because the child was taken from the LCSO jurisdiction, it was their call as to whether an Amber Alert was necessary.

The only criteria based on department policy for an Amber Alert that wasn't met is the sheriff's office making a recommendation to the state.